21" front tire

[ekaphoto]

I would like to see a 21 in front tire on the v-strom, at least as an option. I understand it is not designed as an off road bike as such, but the 19" is a comprimise that gives you the worst of both worlds in some respects. /the 21 would be better on dirt/ pot holed roads and make more dual sport tires available for the bike.

[JayR]

I would second that recommendation.

[garandman]

I find the 19" perfect for rough roads and gravel.

I wouldn't buy the bike with a 21" front wheel, since the braking, handling, and high speed stability would be unacceptable.

[Heavy-H]

Here ya go.......
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/TheHowster/offroad650.jpg

[greywolf]

Recording the 60 to zero stopping time on the bottom representation would require a calendar instead of a stopwatch.

[JayR]

I find the 19" perfect for rough roads and gravel.

I wouldn't buy the bike with a 21" front wheel, since the braking, handling, and high speed stability would be unacceptable.

Sorry Garandman, but I disagree. When I was with a couple of BMW riders in the Black Hills there GS's seemed to push less in gravel, and they did a good job on the paved canyons as well.

I also bent my rim on a cattle pass, not to say I couldn't have bent a 21", but the V rims are not cheap.

[malachi]

I could care less about the 21" front tire on the V-strom, the 19" is quite fine with the TKC 80 on it. What I WOULD like to see is the option of having spoked wheels.....now that would be awesome!!!!!

[Tony T]

I was always of the same opinion that a 21" front would be great. But after mucking around with DRZ front ends etc for ages, we ended up doing our big trip with stock sizes. I had stock wheels and the guy I was with had custom made spoked ones.
After 8500kms of sealed highway, gravel roads, rocks and deep sand, I came away totally happy with the standard sizes.
As long as you make the right tyre choice. For the soft stuff, we had 19" motocross rear tyres on the front. :cool: Worked perfectly.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1063360/EBR2008-167Web.jpg

[Ogre_FL]

Sorry Garandman, but I disagree. When I was with a couple of BMW riders in the Black Hills there GS's seemed to push less in gravel, and they did a good job on the paved canyons as well.

I also bent my rim on a cattle pass, not to say I couldn't have bent a 21", but the V rims are not cheap.

BMW GS's have 19" wheels dont they?
Maybe the old-old airheads had 21", but I know the 1100's thru 1200's are 19"

[PonchoV]

Honestly I would not get to excited about what a BMW that is over a 1/4 ton dry has on the front end.
I do a lot of off road riding & many times have to ride th slab to get to the fun area. My choice of bike is the KLR. This is for many reason but not at this time. Many of the hard core riders have gone to a 19" front wheel mainly because there are better selection of front tires as well as the handling. There are even some riders that like the 18 & 17 front wheel.
They tell me that the fatter tire helps float over the sand. Plus there are breaking factors which is addressed by replacing the stock dics w/ a 320mm.
Usually the stock set up of wheels & tires is pretty close to being rightfor an easy 90% of the riders.

[Stromin'Nroman]

For the soft stuff, we had 19" motocross rear tyres on the front. :cool: Worked perfectly.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1063360/EBR2008-167Web.jpg

You Aussies are a resourceful bunch.